My son and I were working on the car today and while it was running my son almost burnt his fingers on the alternator housing.....

Is it normal for the alternator to be hotter than heck while running? The voltage on the dash is reading normal.

Being a first gen Camaro guy, working on this 96 Z been an adventure.

 

Yeah, it can get pretty hot.

 

Wow.....no kidding.

Thanks....

 

Man, when my dad used to ask me if something was hot it was usually a plug wire. Zap!

But seriously, anything physically touching the engine will be pretty hot especially in a cramped 4th gen engine bay.

 

Yeah, it gets heat soak from the engine as well as generating it's own heat from working. I know I don't ever stick my hand on it.